Thursday, June 14, 2012

Pricing Changes

Updated 2012-11-13: Updated info based on schedule change described here. Update: Added info about license period, OS platforms and SQLite.
With the pricing changes announced at Real World, we've been getting a lot of questions from folks as to how this will affect them. Here are some clarifications:
Starting with Real Studio 2013 Release 1, the IDE itself will be free to use for developing, testing and debugging on any platform. To be able to create stand-alone builds of your apps (deploy), you buy a license. These are the available licenses and prices:

New Real Studio Pricing

License

New Purchase

Renewal

IDE

FREE

FREE

Desktop Deployment

$300

$150

Web Deployment

$400

$200

Console Deployment

$100

$50

DB Servers

$300

$150

Note: You can build for OS X, Windows and Linux for any license type. SQLite usage (RealSQLDatabase) does not require a DB Server license.

A new purchase or renewal gives you access to all updates for the next 12 months. As usual, you can continue to use versions that were released during your license period even after your license has expired.

Speaking of licenses, anyone who has or had a modern Real Studio license (2005 - present) will have their license automatically converted as follows:

If your license is current when 2013 R1 ships, you will be able to deploy with it immediately. If your license is expired, you can use the IDE for free, however you will not be able to deploy with it until you renew. Of course, you can continue to use any prior version of Real Studio as you always have. And as a prior license holder, you can choose to renew any of the converted licenses at the new renewal pricing.

For some of you these changes will result in a price decrease, for others it will result in a price increase. To help mitigate any price increases, you can renew your current license for up to two years at the current pricing any time before 2013 R1 ships.

New licenses can be used on up to two computers at one time. We feel this is sufficient because the IDE itself is now free and can be used anywhere for development and testing without a license. With that said, your license is not "locked" to two computers. You can move it around computers as you wish, but it will only be active on two computers at a time. If you have further questions about these changes you can email Customer Service: custserv@realsoftware.com.

No. You have to have a license to build apps. Period. There is no per app license, etc. It's very simple. Standalone requires a license to build. You can then have as many standalone apps built as your heart desires.

Cool! I used to maintain two Professional licenses so I could develop natively on Mac and Windows (the remote thing never really felt right)... when I wanted the web deployment capability so upgraded to the $1,000 one with the $500 a year renewal. After not being happy enough with the results of the web part, I let my subscription lapse. So now it looks like my yearly cost will drop to $150 a year. Yay! When I can I sign up again? Hehe

Does it mean, that I will not be able to build applications after my licence expires? Now, I can still build it, with older version, but I can. I'm paying for version. Will this option dissapear with new pricing? Will I be unable to build application after my licence expires? Or I will be able to build, but only with older version of RB IDE "deployer" that I had payed for?In other words - in past, we payed for product. Will new pricing change it into pricing for service?

I am a 'hobbyist' programmer (ex-professional now retired) who has written a few applications for my own use and to 'deploy' as FREEware via my web-site. They are all Desktop apps for Windows, and I have a Personal license that more than covers my needs.

My reading of the changes is that my license renewal for one year will increase from the current 39euro to about 119euro.

It looks as though when my current 24 month license runs out I will stick with the last version I have in hand.

Presently, I have Personal for both Windows and OS X. This allows me to RUN and COMPILE on both Windows and OS X.

One point I do not find clarified or made clear anywhere is whether the new Desktop license is platform specific like the Professional now. Or one Desktop license allows me to RUN and COMPILE on both Windows and OS X.

I want to RUN and COMPILE on both Windows and OS X. Do I need just one Desktop license or need two, one for each platform?

@Paul Lefebvre and @Dana B: Thanks for the replies. I think I get it but still have that "little bit of not sure" feeling.

1) I want to compile ON a Mac for the Mac.

2) I want to compile ON Windows for Windows.

Just to be sure that I understand you correctly, do I need only 1 Desktop license and I can do (1) and (2)?

I want to avoid the terms "deploy" or "deploying" since this is not very clear and specific. I know I can deploy for the Mac on a Windows and I can also deploy for a Windows on a Mac... but this is not what I need to know going forward.

I am alright at the present, but going forward, I do not have any slack to play with unless I am prepared to up my cost.

Ever since a VB refugee, I am still playing around with Real Studio and PureBasic after dropping PowerBASIC due to non cross-platform reason. I am also toying with Objective-C (for the additional benefit of iOS) and VS2012 (for Windows 8 Metro).

I currently have a Mac Professional License and a Windows Professional License. Since I will now be able to develop on both with one license, will my remaining time for both licenses be added together for my new license?

First. What does the DB license buy you? What SQLite3 stuff can you do in a deployed application without it? Maybe my lack of RealBasic background makes this a dumb question. I get what it means to deploy to a desktop as opposed to deploying to a console or to the web. But I don't see how "database" fits into that picture.

Second. Are the licenses cumulative at all? If I buy a web deployment license, can I also deploy to the desktop too? Or is each one stand-alone, and if you want the features of all of them, it's a $1000+ price tag?

I'm using two licenses for myself: 1xProfessional and 1xWeb is there a way for me to combine the two licenses without having to purchase a new license or upgrade one of the two? The pro license is due to expire in 60 days and web license is due for renewal in 90 days. According to the new scheme the two licenses will upgraded into Pro = Desktop+DB+Console and the Web into Web+DB meaning I will have to have 2 licenses for DB. According to the 2 licenses I should actually only have one which currently should should be Enterprise but it is not. Can you please clarify what is going to happen in my case? Thanks

@ Tigme - renew your licenses now so you get the current pricing. When the new licensing system starts in October, contact Customer Service and they can give you credit for the extra DB license by extending your existing licenses.

@Derrick, Whether expired or not, with 2012r2 your Pro license will become a Desktop, Console & DB licenses. If you want Web, not or after the change, you will need to purchase a Web license. If you have more questions feel free to email Customer Service at custserv@realsoftware.com

Just wondering if there is any comment yet on how much the iOS deployment license might cost? I'm assuming it's similar pricing to the Desktop or Web components - would that be fair? Attempting to do a little business budgeting here!

Many Real desktop developers currently use Corona for their iOS needs, and are looking forward to ditching it when Real adds iOS support. Corona costs $199 a year. I would hope that Real's iOS doesn't exceed that price, or combined with Desktop doesn't exceed $500, other wise there is little incentive to leave Corona.

When you renew a license with a current update plan your new update plan will run from your current plan's expiration date. If you have specific questions about your license please feel free to email me at custserv@realsoftware.com and I will be happy to help you!

Quick Question: I want to make sure I understand this correctly. I currently have an Enterprise license. When that license expires, I can still continue to compile and deploy apps. Under the new licensing model, when my license expires, I can no longer compile and deploy apps. Is that correct? If so, I really do not like the new model. You are forcing people to renew each and every year on or before the license expires. I may have to re-think staying with RB. And personally, I don't like the new name.